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Children's Liturgy Series: 2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle A)

Author: Joyce Bott

Introduction

In today's Gospel, we learn about John the Baptist and his important role of announcing and preparing the way of the Lord.

Opening Prayer

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen

Gospel (Matthew 3:1-12)


John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EJqEN-5__Q (attributed to Catholic Kids Media)

Reflection

Say: During Advent, we prepare our homes to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We might put out an Advent wreath like this one. Color the wreath green and red. Each wreath has one pink candle and three purple candles. There is one candle for each Sunday in Advent. Ask: What are some other ways you prepare your homes to celebrate Jesus’ birth? (Accept all reasonable responses.)

Give children time to color. Then say: During Advent, we also prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus’ coming. Many years ago, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. Let’s listen to what John the Baptist said about how we are to prepare.

Say: John the Baptist tells us that we prepare the way of the Lord when we repent, or turn away from sin and back toward God. We can reflect on any poor choices we have made and ask God for forgiveness. We change our behavior by making good moral choices. In this way, we prepare our minds and hearts to welcome Jesus at Christmas.

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Closing Prayer

Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen